Supremely, spiritual directors/mentors/pastors are persons who have a sense of being 'established' in God. Otherwise they are too dangerous to be allowed into the soul space of others.
Richard FosterRead
Pride is one of the socially acceptable sins in some corners of the evangelical culture. It's just straight-out ego gratification - how important I am; whether my name gets on the building or on the TV program or in the magazine article.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Pride can often be mistaken for self-worth in some religious contexts, fueling ego rather than true humility.
In this quote, Richard Foster critiques the phenomenon of pride within certain evangelical circles, where it is not only tolerated but also celebrated. He highlights how pride functions as a form of ego gratification, drawing attention to the desire for recognition and validation through fame and status, rather than fostering genuine humility and service to others. This underscores the inherent danger of equating personal significance with external accolades in a culture that can prioritize the self over community and spirituality.
Themes
PrideEgoHumilityRecognitionReligionCulture
In practice
Example use cases
During a sermon, a pastor might invoke this quote to provoke thought on the nature of humility among church leaders.
More from Richard Foster
All quotes →Leadership is an act of submission to God. To be a leader means listening to all kinds of people and situations. Out of that listening, we are hoping to discern the mind of God as best we can. This is the price of leadership - it's an act of sacrifice. So leadership is part and parcel of the work of submission to God.
Richard FosterRead
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